Nate, Sebastian, Kari, and Lucy gather to discuss KATAMARI DAMACY, Namco's quirky rolling ball extravaganza from 2004. We try to communicate in a conversation the unique aesthetic and exuberant mood of one of the best, purest games of all time. We discuss scale, the sorting and categorizing of Earth's many things, and the King of All Cosmos as an aspirational figure. Five-year-old William pops in to render his verdict on the game, Nate wonders whether the Prince has "Baby Yoda energy," and we imagine a better world in which Katamari had inspired a legion of genre imitators. 

Nate, Sebastian, and David gather to discuss BEYOND GOOD & EVIL, Ubisoft's 2003 adventure game about uncovering a government conspiracy through the power of investigative journalism. We discuss the early-aughts "Titan A.E." sci-fi aesthetic, clumsy but good-hearted attempts at multiculturalism, and how weird it feels to have a populous roused to rebellion by the power of journalism. We discuss long-in-development sequels and famous vaporware. Nate admits his desire to eat a box of K-Bups.

Nate, Jordan, and Ryan gather to discuss PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME, Ubisoft's 2003 time-rewinding parkour extravaganza. We discuss the game's similarities to ICO (a game we covered earlier this year), the superb level design, and how the titular Prince reads as quite a bit creepier in 2020. Ryan lauds how influential the game's combat seems to have been, Nate explains his theory that the Prince *definitely* fronts a butt-rock band, and Jordan explains his strategy for winning infinite free pizzas. 

Nate, Sebastian, Ryan, and David all gather to discuss STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC, BioWare's 2003 RPG epic set a long, long, LONG time ago in a galaxy far, far away. We discuss RPG combat systems, moral choices, and the pleasure of new looks at familiar terrain. Ryan gives us a peek into the history of Star Wars tabletop games, Nate posits a third possible force alignment, the "Medium Side," and we wonder whether Carth Onasi is "Diet Kaidan Alenko."

It's our 100th episode! Join Nate and a whole host of guests as they consider a dozen games that didn't quite make the cut to receive their own episodes. Ryan extols the virtues of some games that don't hold your hand, Sebastian highlights some games with more narrative punch than you might at first suspect, Nate loves a game which has big Studio Ghibli energy, and Jordan likes when Luigi is scared. David gushes over his favorite dungeon-crawler/town-builder/time-travel/photography/golf RPG, Kari explains what a "Pikmin" is, Rebekah will fight you about Golden Sun, and Brock submits a surprising favorite. 

GAMES DISCUSSED:

Parasite Eve

Thief: The Dark Project

SSX

Golden Sun

Luigi's Mansion

SkyGunner

Pikmin

Aliens vs. Predator 2

Way of the Samurai

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos

Dark Cloud 2

Nate, Sebastian, Lucy, and Jordan all gather to discuss WARIOWARE, INC.: MEGA MICROGAME$!, Nintendo's bizarre anthology of games which take place in the blink of an eye. We discuss panic, elation, and the grammar of videogames. Sebastian wonders whether Wario's red nose means that he is a drunkard, Lucy laments the absence of Waluigi, and Nate wishes that he could hang out with all of his friends at a gelateria in real life. Jordan stubbornly refuses to acknowledge the existence of Jeff Bezos. 

Nate, Sebastian, Ryan, and returning guest Brock discuss Nintendo and Silicon Knights' 2002 horror adventure ETERNAL DARKNESS: SANITY'S REQUIEM. We talk trying to sort the wheat (cosmic horror) from the chaff (appalling racism) in adapting the works of H.P. Lovecraft, the excitement and eye-rolling corniness of "sanity effects," and how we wish there were more anthology games with ensemble casts. Brock makes an excellent pun, Ryan uses "squamous" very effectively, and Nate compares the game's "store brand Cthulhu mythos" to Mr. Pibb. Sebastian describes the power of arcane conjurations of eldritch magick by comparing them to Starbucks cup sizes, and our sanity meters are depleted.

Nate, Kari, Jordan, and Ryan unite to discuss KINGDOM HEARTS, the 2002 action-RPG / nostalgia stimulator from Final Fantasy developer Square Enix. We discuss arcane lore, breezy combat, and how this early cross-over sensation hits a little bit different in an era in which Disney owns a 95% stake in American pop culture. Kari relates a story of her brother giving some bad advice, Ryan goes to bat for the Gummi Ship, Nate makes a bad analogy and then stubbornly sticks to it for the remainder of the episode, and Jordan looks like Aladdin.  

Nate, Sebastian, and Kari are joined by special guest Rebekah Valentine to discuss Nintendo's 2001 "social simulator" ANIMAL CROSSING. Become indebted to a raccoon! Make friends with a penguin! Get life advice from a musical dog! We discuss the game's curious development history, the bizarre premise, and the wholesome outcome. Nate gets excited about retrogaming within retrogaming, Reb gets misty-eyed at K.K. Slider's folksy wisdom, and Sebastian has a crisis about the futility of all human endeavor. Also discussed: "The Real World," "Fignuts," and villager theft. There is a special interview with William, age 5.

Nate, Sebastian, and Jordan gather to discuss REZ, the synaesthetic rail shooter music experience from Sega and United Game Artists. We discuss games as multi-sensory experiences, electronic dance music, commitment to a visual aesthetic, and hacking the planet. Sebastian contemplates a nefarious betrayal of the listening audience, Jordan doesn't know how to pronounce "Lumines," and Nate demands that Meteos be brought back immediately, you cowards!!

Nate, Sebastian, Ryan, and Jordan all gather to discuss HALO: COMBAT EVOLVED, Bungie's game-changing console FPS from 2001. We discuss the game's rocky development, its somewhat monotonous level design, and all the cool lore that's lurking just out of frame, probably. We're not 100% sure. Nate savors tiny hits of dopamine, Sebastian decries the musical Newsies, and we consider the matter of whether it's cheating to screen-peek during a Zoom call with your colleagues. 

Nate, Sebastian, Ryan, and David gather to discuss GRAND THEFT AUTO III, Rockstar Games' open-world criminal sandbox and infinite playground of the ne'er-do-well. We discuss bad satire, clunky controls, and those excellent moments when you can tell, in slow motion, that you're not going to land a stunt jump cleanly. Ryan agonizes over having to drive halfway across the city just to start a mission, Sebastian reminds us that the voice cast has some surprising names, and Nate exhorts all listeners to go play Mafia III instead. 

Nate and Ryan are joined by returning guest Brock to discuss SILENT HILL 2, Konami's 2001 horror masterpiece and one of the true greats of the medium. Nate and Ryan both have scares while playing the game, Brock laments the poor quality of the game's HD remaster, and everybody agrees that protagonist James Sunderland has a terrible time. Nate does a frankly terrible Ed Wynn impression, Brock does a passable John Mulaney, and Ryan puts on a pizza box and pretends to be Pyramid Head. 

Nate, Sebastian, and Jordan gather to discuss ICO, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan's 2001 exercise in gorgeous environments and narrative minimalism. We discuss abandoned castles, escort missions, and bloom lighting. Sebastian lauds the game for expanding the emotional palette of videogames beyond "fun," Jordan appreciates how intuitive the puzzles are, and Nate wishes the game had flashbacks so we could see "Baby Yorda," a joke that Jordan doesn't properly appreciate. 

Nate, Sebastian, Ryan, and David all gather to discuss ADVANCE WARS, the 2001 turn-based military masterpiece from Nintendo and Intelligent Systems. We discuss inauspicious release dates, perfect information, and the "Pokemonification of global military conflict." David praises thorough but very helpful tutorials for complex systems, Sebastian threatens to burn someone's house down, and Nate gets lucky. 

Nate, Sebastian, Jordan, and Ryan all gather to discuss DEVIL MAY CRY, Capcom's 2001 action game about slayin' demons and slingin' one-liners. Join us as we discuss a combat system that encourages finesse and expressive play, cutscenes with truly execrable dialogue, and trench coats. Ryan wonders whether the game has more in common with the Divine Comedy or Oedipus, Jordan relishes firing two guns whilst jumping through the air, and Sebastian refers to a boss as "The Big Gooey." All four hosts get "woke to justice." 

Nate, Sebastian, Jordan, and Kari gather to discuss FINAL FANTASY X, the seminal RPG series' first entry on the PlayStation 2. We discuss early motion capture, awkward English dubs, and high melodrama. Sebastian laments that such good pathos is wrapped in a shell of anime nonsense, and Nate exults over his anime nonsense having a solid core of pathos. Kari loves an ending that sticks to its guns, Nate makes his "best Ryan Lucas joke," and Sebastian makes a surprisingly cogent criticism involving John Elway. Jordan references Michael Crichton's TIMELINE.

Nate, Sebastian, and Jordan gather to discuss JET SET RADIO, Smilebit and SEGA's roller-blading, spray-painting, stick-it-to-the-man action game from 2000. We discuss "future funk" music, cel-shading, and police militarization. Sebastian christens himself "Wheelfellow," Nate admits to further childhood trauma, and Jordan describes many things as "very Dreamcast."